Therapy after Gracilis transfer

Treatments, Rehabilitation, and Recovery
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PRISCILLA
Posts: 100
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 5:43 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Son, traumatic injured (TBPI) - November 2003. 3 surgeries to date.
Location: North Carolina

Therapy after Gracilis transfer

Post by PRISCILLA »

A question for any of you that have had the gracilis transfer. After you came out of the cast and were given the go ahead for therapy, what type of therapy was prescribed ?
Thanks !
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Christopher
Posts: 845
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2003 10:09 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Date of Injury: 12/15/02

Level of Injury:
-dominant side C5, C6, & C7 avulsed. C8 & T1 stretched & crushed

BPI Related Surgeries:
-2 Intercostal nerves grafted to Biceps muscle,
-Free-Gracilis muscle transfer to Biceps Region innervated with 2 Intercostal nerves grafts.
-2 Sural nerves harvested from both Calves for nerve grafting.
-Partial Ulnar nerve grafted to Long Triceps.
-Uninjured C7 Hemi-Contralateral cross-over to Deltoid muscle.
-Wrist flexor tendon transfer to middle, ring, & pinky finger extensors.

Surgical medical facility:
Brachial Plexus Clinic at The Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN
(all surgeries successful)

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
~Theodore Roosevelt
Location: Los Angeles, California USA

Re: Therapy after Gracilis transfer

Post by Christopher »

Mostly trying to "breath" the arm into movement (since it was innervated using intercostal nerves off the ribs), if I remember correctly. It's been 5 years now. I do remember that the first movements where noticed while spending a lot of time in the water, teaching my chocolate to fetch underwater. It was a good few months before it would move against gravity, instead of in water.

Best of Luck,
Christopher
PRISCILLA
Posts: 100
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 5:43 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Son, traumatic injured (TBPI) - November 2003. 3 surgeries to date.
Location: North Carolina

Re: Therapy after Gracilis transfer

Post by PRISCILLA »

Thanks for the response, Christopher. I understand what you mean by breathe it into movement. Even though its still a little early, at this point all James has been instructed to do is keep his elbow loose and of course his fingers and shoulder shrugs. I thought those things were pretty typical right now. Hes still in his wrist splint and wearing his sling most of the time. I know hell be glad to get those off.
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